Tipping Off
After winning its first-ever Atlantic 10 Championship game over No. 9 Fordham today (March 7), No. 8 Loyola Chicago prepares to take on top-seeded Richmond in the quarterfinal round tomorrow (March 8). Tip-off inside the Henrico Sports and Events Center is set for 10 a.m. CT with the action streaming live on ESPN+. Joel Godett (play by play) and Fallon Stokes (commentary) will be on the call.

Quick Hits

• Loyola earned a spot in the quarterfinal round after surviving Fordham in the second round Wednesday (March 7).
• The 'Blers outscored Fordham in two-of-four quarters, including a crucial 11-8 fourth quarter, leading to a 53-52 win.
• The win came over one of the hottest teams in the league as Fordham ended the regular season winners of six of its last seven games. 
• Two Ramblers turned in double figure scoring performances versus the Rams with Alyssa Fisher garnering 14 points and Sam Galanopoulos adding 10.
• On the glass, Ali Berg grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds, tying her season-high. Sitori Tanin snagged six while Thoranna Kika Hodge-Carr and Aaliyah Moore (season-high) nabbed five each.
• Fisher has scored double digits in six of Loyola's past seven games. 
• The last time Loyola Chicago won two games in a conference tournament was the 2012-13 Horizon League Tournament, its final season in the league. Third-seeded Loyola downed No. 6 Milwaukee, 71-54, in the quarterfinal round before earning a 72-45 win over No. 2 Youngstown State in the semis. The Ramblers fell, 54-38, to No. 1 Green Bay in the championship game.
• The goal for Loyola is to earn its first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament by being crowned champions of the A-10. Loyola needs three more wins (quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship) in the tournament for that to happen.
• Before today, the last time the Ramblers won a conference tournament game was the 2020-21 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Sixth-seeded Loyola earned a thrilling 61-60 victory over third-seeded Illinois State in the quarterfinals.

2023-24 Rambler Bites

• Seven letterwinners return to the roster, including three starters. The Ramblers welcome six newcomers, including two freshman and four transfers.
• In addition to new players, Loyola added assistant coach Simon Harris and assistant coach Jenna Rubino-McCormick to the program in the off-season.
• Head coach Allison Guth is in her second season at the helm of Loyola. 2023-24 is her eighth year as a head coach after spending the first six seasons at Yale.

Scouting The Richmond Spiders

• Fifth-year head coach Aaron Roussell, who tallied a 161-50 record at the University of Chicago (2004-2012), has guided his Spiders squad to a 16-5 overall record and a 16-2 mark in A-10 play.
• Roussell was named the A-10 Coach of the Year for his efforts.
• By earning the No. 1 seed, tomorrow will be the A-10 regular season champion's first game of the tournament.
• The Spiders ended the regular season with back-to-back wins over Duquesne and St. Bonaventure.
• Richmond's only loss in its last 10 games came Feb. 24 at George Mason - an 82-76 overtime defeat.
• The Spider's recently received six votes in the Week 18 USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
• Addie Budnik, a Highland Park, Ill. native, notched the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year nod. She averages 2.5 blocks and 4.2 rebounds per game, 
• Rachel Ullstrom earned the A-10 Sixth Woman of the Year plaudit. She leads the team with a 53-percent average from the floor.

All-Time Against Richmond

• Loyola trails, 2-0, in its all-time series with the Spiders.
• On Feb. 17, 2024, Loyola came back from being down 16 points and briefly led Richmond in the fourth quarter, but ultimately suffered a 75-71 defeat on the road. Galanopoulos' game-high 21 points led three other Ramblers in double figures.
• Fisher scored 16 points while Tanin and Ali Berg (bench-high) followed with 12 apiece.
• Kira Chivers posted a career-high eight assists while tying her season-high in rebounds with four.
• Last season on Jan. 4, 2023, was the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Last Time Out
After battling 14 lead changes and six ties, the No. 8 seeded Loyola University Chicago women's basketball team earned its first-ever Atlantic 10 Tournament win after beating No. 9 Fordham, 53-52, Thursday inside the Henrico Sports and Events Center. Alyssa Fisher scored a team-high 14 points while Sam Galanopoulos followed with 10.

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